Sharia Fears Threaten Int’l Effort

Yvonne Stoneburner, center, reads to her son Caleb, left and her daughter Karlee, right, on Tuesday, in Mountain Home. Stoneburner, a single mom who relies on out-of-state child support payments, is hoping the Idaho Legislature passes legislation during its May 18 special session that will prevent Idaho’s child support enforcement and collection system from being dismantled. (AP Photo/Kimberlee Kruesi)

The U.S. has spent years leading negotiations toward an international treaty that would make it easier for single parents worldwide to collect child-support payments. But families across the country could be stuck with the cumbersome existing system after legislators in a single state rejected the deal because, they said, it could allow Islamic law to influence American courts. The move by Idaho threatens an effort involving dozens of nations that set out more than a decade ago to improve procedures that have made it difficult, sometimes impossible, for parents’ to get the money. Idaho leaders now face pressure to reverse their decision and have called a special legislative session, which begins Monday and will cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars each day/ Kimberlee Kruesi & David Crary , AP. More here.